Within the twenty second qualifying session of the 2024 Components 1 championship, Scuderia Ferrari continued the work with the smooth compound that started throughout the last free apply session on the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada with out making important setup modifications. The low-drag rear wing, which is the specification beforehand seen within the Italian Grand Prix on the Monza circuit was confirmed, whereas each SF-24 automobiles ran the usual ground specification, with out the up to date edge particulars. From a dealing with perspective, there was a normal extra of rotation, with stability shifting noticeably towards the rear at decrease speeds.
This attribute precipitated slight understeer on nook entry in sure areas, similar to Flip 7. Ferrari targeted extensively on tire preparation, which required appreciable work even throughout the qualifying session itself. The Maranello workforce regularly communicated with the drivers through radio, suggesting strategies like weaving on straights to create a thermal cycle that might generate adequate temperature within the entrance tires at the beginning of a lap. Sustaining this temperature was additionally essential, because the lengthy straights precipitated it to drop beneath the goal vary.
This situation, significantly on the tire tread, was intently monitored, with the workforce aiming to make the most of a level of understeer to warmth the tire floor. Finally, this influenced the technique for warm laps. The principle query was whether or not to incorporate an extra preparation lap past the out-lap. In Q3, Ferrari opted to not carry out a preparation lap, not like Crimson Bull, as we are going to see later. In the meantime, Mercedes received their tire warm-up technique spot on, thanks additionally to the traits of the W15 automotive in low temperature circumstances. By attaining higher stability, they managed to function their automotive inside the optimum efficiency window.
This final result was one thing the Maranello workforce had struggled with in current races. With observe temperatures at 13.5°C and ambient temperatures round 12°C, unusually chilly circumstances for Components 1, the W15 single-seater proved significantly efficient. This automotive naturally overheats its rear tires and generates important friction on the tire floor. Like Ferrari, Mercedes employed weaving throughout the warm-up lap however averted a prep lap. Nonetheless, with a extra superior stability, they have been much less affected by understeer in low- and medium-speed sections.
Optimum tire administration allowed the Brackley workforce to excel within the first sector, a significant weak spot for Ferrari, which then needed to get well misplaced time within the the rest of the Las Vegas lap. This factors to a recurring situation with the SF-24 automotive, particularly inadequate entrance tire temperature at the beginning of the lap. George Russell gained considerably in Turns 2, 3, and 4, primarily as a consequence of better-prepared tires that offered larger grip ranges. McLaren, alternatively, struggled not solely within the preliminary a part of the circuit but additionally continued dropping time between Turns 5 and 9.
Solely in Flip 5 did it lose virtually two-tenths, dropping an equal quantity within the low-speed part between Turns 7 and 9. After this part, the hole remained just about fixed. In comparison with Ferrari, the principle limitation stays the straights, the place they’re unable to achieve on Mercedes. At low speeds, they may have extracted extra from the automotive and the Delicate tire. On nook entry, each MCL38 automobiles lacked important grip, dropping beneficial time. Lastly, Crimson Bull confronted important difficulties right here in Las Vegas.
Max Verstappen secured a fifth-place end, salvaging the end result, whereas Sergio Perez was as soon as once more eradicated in Q1. The work carried out by the Austrian workforce on the rear wing made headlines: the Crimson Bull engineers used a Dremel to chop the trailing fringe of the extra flap, additional decreasing the wing’s chord, realizing that the one ready for Las Vegas was not sufficiently low-drag. This modification improved the highest velocity however didn’t yield important advantages over the lap, particularly when it comes to traction. From this, we are able to draw a conclusion.
In proportion phrases, 50% of the difficulties could be attributed to setup, which didn’t totally resolve the problems on the straights or enhance traction. The opposite 50% is because of tire warm-up. Most likely, when it comes to mechanical setup, Crimson Bull needed to compromise on suspension stiffness to attempt to put vitality into the tires, particularly the entrance ones. These temperature points on the entrance axle have emerged previously, even when the Milton Keynes workforce was dominant.
Lastly, we check out the telemetry information and if we observe the best occasions of the principle groups, we see that the majority drivers set their greatest lap in Q3 aside from Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time Components 1 world champion and future Ferrari driver, the truth is, did not put collectively a clear lap as a consequence of his personal mistake. With out this error, his W15, quantity 44, might have reached third place, behind Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver was only one and a half-tenths behind, with all of it amassed within the opening sector.
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